Birmingham Settlement » Digital inclusionhttp://birminghamsettlement.org.uk
developing communities, changing livesTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:02:14 +0000en-UShourly1Stay Healthy, Find Work, Live Life – Be Online!http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2015/03/03/stay-healthy-find-work-live-life-be-online/
http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2015/03/03/stay-healthy-find-work-live-life-be-online/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:02:14 +0000http://birminghamsettlement.podnosh.com/?p=1995It’s Be Online, a campaign run by UK Online Centres to get people using the Internet more. The Internet is a marvelous thing and can change every day tasks into something new. Being Online can help you to Stay Healthy by finding local health services, looking up information on NHS Choices or ordering prescriptions. Being Online can help you to Find Work by using a CV builder, looking up interview tips or running searches for jobs, volunteering and training opportunities. Being Online can help you to Live Life, whether that is talking to friends, finding news, looking up new hobbies and events or whatever else you want the Internet to do for you!

We are working with UK Online Centres to provide the opportunity to learn basic IT skills. We can help you to learn online skills like sending emails or using search engines, right through to more advanced topics including finding jobs, looking up health information, shopping and more! Whether you have a little experience already or none at all we can help you get started in your online journey. We will help you to gradually grow your confidence using the Internet in a supportive environment where you can learn at your own pace. We will provide support one-to-one, in groups and through online courses to help you learn in the way you want. Our IT sessions currently take place every Wednesday from 12:30-2:30pm at the Centre for the Aston Family. Please feel free to drop-in and we’ll help you to start learning.

]]>http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2014/11/03/learn-basic-it-skills/feed/0Opportunities to get online with Birmingham Settlement.http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2013/04/29/opportunities-to-get-online-with-birmingham-settlement/
http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2013/04/29/opportunities-to-get-online-with-birmingham-settlement/#commentsMon, 29 Apr 2013 10:52:16 +0000http://birminghamsettlement.podnosh.com/?p=1224Although we live in a world where technology surrounds us, some people still don’t have access to the internet or in fact know how to use it, which is why Birmingham Settlement is offering free training to help people understand the internet as a partner of UK Online Centres.

Birmingham Settlement has secured funding for a third year from UK Online Centres, a national organisation that supports training and projects to help people make the most of online life.

This year’s programme will focus on providing people with the skills they need to feel confident about using the internet. It will cover activities such as how to search and explore the internet, to keep in touch with email, to stay safe online and the basics of using online public services.

The programme will be delivered via a selection of courses, which will take place at the Settlement’s Centre for the Aston Family, on Witton Road, Aston.

The courses are deigned to be short, fun, accessible and easy to follow. Learning will take place independently or with the support a dedicated ‘Digital Champion’. Anyone that wants to find out about the benefits of using the internet in their daily lives is welcome although there will be specific help for jobseekers.

Meena Bharadwa, Head of Operations at Birmingham Settlement, said: “The sessions will be interactive and fun and no previous experience is needed as we will start from basics. We will also be offering some progression courses for those looking to develop skills in specific areas such as making money work and using social media.”

For further information please contact the Centre for the Aston Family.

]]>http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2013/04/29/opportunities-to-get-online-with-birmingham-settlement/feed/0Community learning at the Centre for the Aston Family.http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/10/05/community-learning-at-the-centre-for-the-aston-family/
http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/10/05/community-learning-at-the-centre-for-the-aston-family/#commentsFri, 05 Oct 2012 09:06:14 +0000http://birminghamsettlement.podnosh.com/?p=920Birmingham Settlement’s Development and Ageing Well teams are taking part in the eReading Rooms project pilot run by UK Online Centres. The eReading Rooms will provide a free service to promote informal learning where any topic or interest can be explored via the Internet.

These eReading Rooms aspire to put informal learning at the heart of communities, where knowledge and information can be shared to help people enhance their skills. Birmingham Settlement will be providing members of the community with the opportunity to access ‘The Learning Zone’ to learn about any topic they are interested in, from gardening to history. We will offer the latest technology for people to access the site and provide a friendly and helpful environment for their interests to grow.

This is a great way for members of the community to explore their interests and gain new knowledge and skills, but also to enhance their computer and Internet skills.

Head of Development, Meena Bharadwa and I set off for a very humid London on Tuesday to share UK Online’s celebration of one million learners accessing the internet. The afternoon was kindly hosted by Facebook’s UK office and we had a great tour of what goes on there. Facebook’s Director of Policy chatted about the importance of the work that UK Online Centres do in helping to reduce social exclusion across the country and UK Online’s Managing Director, Helen Milner provided an inspiring insight into the work that’s already been carried out, compelling us towards another million! To see more about the impact that this work is having in the UK check out Helen Milner‘s blog. It was a great day all round and we met some fantastic organisations involved in this work like Action Acton. We chatted to one of their volunteers who had previously been a UK Online learner. He saw so much value in what Action Acton do that he now volunteers to support other people get online and involved. Birmingham Settlement is a registered UK Online Centre and we’ve got some great stories like the one below about how people are benefiting from a bit of support to get online.

]]>http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/06/28/one-in-a-million/feed/0Increase your employability at the Birmingham Settlement Job Club!http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/05/07/increase-your-employability-at-the-birmingham-settlement-job-club/
http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/05/07/increase-your-employability-at-the-birmingham-settlement-job-club/#commentsMon, 07 May 2012 15:32:28 +0000http://birminghamsettlement.podnosh.com/?p=732Birmingham Settlement’s Job Club has gotten off to a great start! Launching on 17th April it’s already been immensely popular and had a good attendance each week. So far our volunteers have been helping people to complete application forms and looking at the possible criteria that employers might use for short-listing.

If you’re looking for work and want to refine your CV, develop great interview skills or want to find out how the Internet and digital technology can support your job search come along to find out more. Our netWORK sessions will look specifically at using social media and digital tools to portray a positive image of yourself and help you to connect with potential employers in new ways.

The Job Club runs every Tuesday from 1pm-3pm at the Centre for the Aston Family.

For further information about the Job Club please contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 0771 or sourour.trevelyan@bsettlement.org.uk

]]>http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/05/07/increase-your-employability-at-the-birmingham-settlement-job-club/feed/5Join our Community Development team.http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/04/13/join-our-community-development-team/
http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/2012/04/13/join-our-community-development-team/#commentsFri, 13 Apr 2012 12:00:22 +0000http://birminghamsettlement.podnosh.com/?p=646Our Community Development team are currently seeking three staff members to support their work out in the community. What is community development about?

Birmingham Settlement has been funded by UK Online to be a UK Online Centre. The purpose of Online Centres is to encourage and support people who do not use the internet or other digital technology, to do so.

We are recruiting Digital Champions. A Digital Champion is anyone who shows, or supports another person to get online. Some of our Digital Champions volunteer at our Centre for the Aston Family, by spending a couple of hours a week supporting new IT users at our cyber suite. If you would like to volunteer to simply help someone new to computers to access the internet, contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 3003.

We are also working with Digital Partners. One way of being a digital partner is for an agency to provide very cheap or free access to the internet, and actively support people to get online. We can support agencies which sign up as Digital Partners to become UK Online Centres so that they can access funding to train staff and volunteers. They can also raise money by offering free access to online courses. But you don’t have to become a UK Online centre to be one of our digital partners. For instance, Environmental Computer (Recycling and Removals Ltd) have supported our work by donating free, reconditioned computers to small organisations who could not afford new IT equipment. If you are interested in your organisation becoming one of our digital partners, contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 3003.

If you or any of your friends and family would like support in using the internet, we can give you free and friendly advice and support. Simply ring Sourour Trevelyan on the number above or visit the Centre for the Aston Family; 359/361 Witton Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6NS.